Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-31
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MAINE PEDAGOGICAL SOCIETY.
Experimental Illustrations and the Dis
cussion Of Practical Questions.
Fridays Proceed inss, Closing with .
Most Interesting Lecture on
Expression

Scientific Temperance lnstfucuon, Win
Illustrative Experiments" was read by G. +.
Warner of Thomaston. Each step taken
was aptly illustrated by experiments. The
action exerted by alcohol on the system was
shown very conclusiveIy by illustrations Of
its action on many Of the principal constitu-
ents of the body. The work of alcohol
etc, was clearly illustrated. Shall we let
alcohol prevent the natural decomposition of
our food, asked the speaker. The ieshy APP
pearance that is sometimes seen in those who
drink liquors simply shows that the system 10
stuffed with waste matter. Having shown
that alcohol is necessary in the arts, sciences,
etc, he said that teachers only interfere with
il az a beverage. The great attraction alco-
hol has for water was shown by filling a test
tube half full Of water and then filling with
alcohol and nvertiBg it. Take for instance the
craving for water felt by the person who is
recovering from debauch. Alcohol takes
the water from the white of an egg leaving il
much a. If it had been cooked. The posi-
bilitics Of life in the egg have been destroyed.
drop of blood was compared under the
microscope with drop Of blood mixed with
alcohol. The action Of alcohol on the nerves
was illustrated by applying electricity TO the
nerves in a frog before and after alcohol had
been applied TO them. The conclusion
reached by these experiments was that
alcohol is poison and not food
The discussion was opened by Chas. X.
Crandali. NJ. d. of Portland. DIR. Crandall
earnestly advocated temperance instruction in
our common schools. proving by statistics
that it is in youth that drinking habits are
formed ~ 900 children Of Chicago in one
year were arrested principally for drunken
ness. lie advocated the giving TO child a
practical idea of anatomy and physiology; let
them see why alcohol is a poison.
After Mr.. Crandall had finished IL was
found absolutely necessary by reason of the
almost entire lack of heat in the hall to adj
journ the meeting till p. VI. to be then held
in the Grammar school building on State
street. 1t seems unfair that the hospitable
intentions of our people should suffer in
opinion of the public because the tempera-
ture of a hall is such as TO give each visitor
to our town a souvenir in the form of a severe
cold.
In the commencing of the afternoon session
at 2 Z. NJ. paper-subject--" Grammar
School Arithmetic was read by &. A.
Byram, Principal of the Grammar School,
Bangor. Mr.. Byram touched upon many
points, all of practical worth. In speaking
of fractions, they coming first Hftbe course,
he expressed the opinion that change could
be advantag eously made by taking up deci-
mails first thereby giving the pupils view
of intermediate and at the same time
give them work on advance topics.
Noteacher to insure promotion for his pupils,
should give problems requiring no thought,
but rather give them problems fairly hard and
the help that is necessary and then let the
teacher rest assured he has done his part
whether the pupils in all cases are promoted
or not. Particular emphasis was placed upon
mental arithmetic and explanations as in
leaving out either of .hese we leave out of
consideration one of the most important
schemes of teaching this branch.
Mr.. Byram did not agree with the theory
that three and half hours per week was suf-
fcicnt time to be expended on Arithmetic
when so many of the pupils 60 into active
life from the Grammar school.
Next in order was the reading of paper
devoted to the subject 1.-The Aim of Our
Primary Schools" by Miss NJ l.. +. Shaw,
Lewiston. Miss Shaw showed most ccnciu-
svcly that she not only appreciated the needs
of the primary department but had lively
interest in the work connected with il. Sus-
ccytibility to future growth must be cult
waited especially in the child.
We can't make the little fell
low in the primary school a man nor do we
wish to do So Let him remain a child, but
rs far AS possible help him to be the perfect
child The pinched pale faces of the pupils
arn't always due to the teacherb by any means.
Lack of food and clothing may be the cause
in one case and too much of the same in an
other example. of course mental growth is
the thing to be kept clearly in view. Don't
let the little one enter the grammar school
mere machines. Bring them To true per
ccption of knowledge and its beauties, bring
them to like il and become earnest in it,
pursuit.
She spoke of many pupils who, when the,
enter the higher grades. are lcthargic beings
as il were, saying by their very manner tina
the result Of much study is WEAKNESS OF
the flesh. The speaker next treated the
great influence exerted over the vocabulary
of the future generation by the primary
school teacher
The discussion was opened by Superiu-
tcndent W. w. Stetson of Auburn. He be-
lieved that in the process of educating per
son three stages might be observed, viz
The stage of development, of accumulation
these stages might not be definitely marked,
however. He demonstrated clearly that the
aye of observation was an early one, the
childish age in brief. The primary teacher
should instruct the child to observe easily
Pictures are good, but is the child taught 10
study out from them the full ideas of the
au,hory Memory is used in the Accumulate
ing period and fades with age. In the later
stage reason is more fully shown. Mr.. Stet-
son believed 1t possible for primary scholars
to read their books SO as to be understood
clearly by the hearers, and in writing to
make letters just as correctly though less
rapidly than later. He not only believed il
possible but knew il to be,
The report ON Professional Reading. by
Principal W. j. Corthell Of Gorham was
one in which every word meant something.
The professional reading of literature is
reading to get power and knowledge. In
the professional reading for teachers books
on physiology and Psychology should be
prominent. Let the mind and body be un-
derstood as far as possible by the teacher.
Let the subject to be taught be thoroughly
studied up before hand. Reading alone
cannot take the place of scholastic training,
II cannot give the skill which is obtained on
ly through experience, but it can help to cor
Fect many mlStAkes anu W iilt uP uiS sS"~n-
er's work. Methods vary as they must to
suit the different characteristics of the diff
ferent readers. The speaker advised - one
way of getting the habit of professional read
ing more permanently established, the for
nation of local clubs with some central or
ganization
A. J. Lane of Waterville then opened the
discussion. Though not having seen the
paper of Prof. Corthell his remarks were
none the less pertinent. He thought every
teacher should first read all good books
bearing upon the subject which he was to
teach. He believed that a reference library
should be owned by every town. These the
pupils should learn to use and thus reach
out beyond the method prescribed by one
text book. A teacher should always read
with his professional glasses on. He SHOULD
be law unto himself. teacher should be
live man.
After Mr.. Lanes remarks recess Of
five minutes was taken.
At the close of the afternoon recess, owing